Today there was a long homeroom held in the afternoon. Our class's female prime minister/class rep Yamanaka Ino walked up to the stand with brisk steps and went straight to the point.
"Next, we'll be discussing the topic for today."
As Ino commanded, the male class representative, Nara Shikamaru (aka Ino's slave) began distributing the handouts.
"There will be a chorus contest at the end of month, so we will have to select the conductor, the accompaniment as well as the rest of the staff."
Our school used to have music as a major, so it was a tradition to hold an inter-class chorus contest every spring. It was a pretty grand event too. Should it be in any other ordinary school, the event would usually be held in the sports hall or something. But in our school, it will be held in a large music hall which can hold all the students and teachers.
I took a brief glance at the information about the chorus contest that was printed on the handout. The set piece is Mozart's Ave verum corpus. Pretty well selected. It's short and easy to memorize.
"Since we've already decided that Haruto will be conducting, all we need to do now is to select the person to be the accompaniment."
"She's right…"
"Haruto's the only one who can do it!"
"Oi, hold on a second Ino!"
When I raised my head, I realized everyone in my class was already looking at me.
"You're not willing to do it, Haruto?" Ino was speaking to me in an overbearing tone, as if she was the people's representative. "Aren't you a member of a music club?"
"There's no relation between the two at all! And beside that's a rock band! Decide it in a more democratic manner!"
"Fine. Haruto, please name three of your favorite conductors," said Ino.
"Why?"
"It's part of the democratic process."
What's with that? I don't get it. But there was no one in the class who dared to oppose Ino…
"Hmm… Eugene Ormandy, George Szell and Charles Munch."
"Well then…" Ino placed her two hands on the stand and scanned everyone in the class once. "If there is anyone besides Haruto who can come up with the names of two or more conductors, please raise your hand now."
A silence fell upon the class, as though it was twelve thousand years after a nuclear fallout. Forget about the raising of hands - no one moved a single inch.
"… Then it's decided. Haruto shall be conducting."
I was rendered speechless by Ino's cruel declaration, and it felt like I could hear the sounds of the democracy crumbling around me.
"So next, the candidate for the accompaniment."
Just as she was done saying that, everyone in the class had carefully turned their head around to look at the seat besides me. I was originally confused at what was happening, but I soon caught on.
If we are talking about who in our class knows how to play the piano, the very first person who would come into the minds of everyone would only be… Weiss. That's because she won the international piano competition held in Europe at a mere age of twelve—the youngest ever girl piano prodigy.
However, she no longer wished to play the piano due to a certain reason, and it was a reason that everyone here—and not just me—knows very well. That's why no one dared to suggest that Weiss play the piano.
All everyone did was to quietly peek at Weiss' expressionless face. In the end, no one came up with a candidate for the position of the accompaniment.
It was night during the same day. When Mom entered my room she flashed a sweet smile and said, "Haruto-kun, Mommy has something to give you. Something good."
"I don't want it!"
"At least ask me what that it is!"
"Say it then! I bet it's nothing good anyway!"
"Haruto, take this."
The things that were swaying in front of me while I was reading were… some sort of tickets. Just as I was about to brush the tickets aside, I caught a glimpse of the words "Conductor: Senju Tobirama"… I then realized her motive, and my mood went down in an instant.
"Mom, this is… your job, right…?"
"Mmm, yeah. That's why I am giving them to Haruto."
The world famous conductor—Senju Tobirama, who was also my mom's classmate in high school and in the College of Music. People have frequently given Mom jobs on critiquing Tobirama's albums or concerts probably because they thought that both of them shared a really good relationship—however, it seems like Mom was not too fond of criticizing the music of her friend. As to the course of action she would take when she encounters such a situation—you may be stunned by what you hear, but she would always shove the job to me. Also, this was the first time that she has asked me to critique a concert.
"No, I can't do it! Do it yourself."
"I don't want to as well. I took the job without asking who the conductor was. Please!"
"Tch, fine! But why two tickets?"
"Tobirama will hold a concert in Tokyo, I was thinking that Haruto could attend the concert together with some beauty, so I asked them to give me two. These are VIP seats, you know? They cost forty thousand yen each! Kyaa! how lucky Haruto is to be able to go on an extravagant date~! So please! It's not nice to leave the VIP seats empty, so make sure you bring someone along with you. I'll fork out the cash for the night at the hotel as well!"
"M-Mom! Wait!"
Goddammit! That woman. But despite my anger, I still stuffed the tickets that Mom gave me into my pocket. I couldn't help it, because I kind of like Tobirama's performances anyway.
"Oh? So you are the conductor for class 2B?"
For some reason, Ruby smiled really happily while she was saying that. She was actually the first person to reach the club room—she probably attended classes in the morning. I mean, she is one of those bad students who skip classes all day and only come to school when the school's over.
"You're from class 2A, right? Has your class already decided on the conductor?"
"Mmm, I was made the conductor right away—it was the same last year. I am already itching for the fight."
"You're not singing? Why?" asked Yang.
I was curious about that as well. Ruby is the lead singer for our band. Wouldn't it be better for her to be singing instead of conducting?
"The pleasure you get when the audience behind you applauds for you is quite an unique experience! The only occupation in this world which allows you to experience that is the conductor. I remember… Tobirama said something like that during one of his interviews."
"That's because he is a narcissist." Weiss mumbled while she wiped her guitar with a piece of cloth. From her tone, it sounded more like she was irritated by her father rather than hating him.
"It feels like I can get along really well with your father. Can we invite him to see the chorus contest? He should be more than willing to come if there are no clashes with his schedule, right?"
"Definitely not!" Weiss rejected Ruby's suggestion with a frightening expression on her face.
"Ah, speaking of which…" The talk about Tobirama made me remember the matter about the concert. "Weiss, what are your favorite pieces out of all the symphonies by Dvořák?"
"Why are you asking that?" Weiss tilted her head and asked.
"Well, just treat it as a survey."
"The third and the fifth."
The waters are deep, but there seems to be hope for me.
"How about Tchaikovsky?"
"Manfred Symphony."
"You two are indeed father and daughter. Even your tastes are alike."
"What are you talking about?"
I gently took out the tickets and placed them in front of Weiss, the pieces that will be performed are Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Manfred Symphony, as well as Dvořák's Symphony No. 5—and Tobirama will be conducting. Weiss's expression froze when she saw that.
"My mother gave me this, and… there's two of them, so I'm trying to get someone to go with me."
"That feels so stupid. Why would I want to watch Papa's concert?"
Weiss turned her head towards the direction of the blackboard after she said that. She does really dislike her father a lot, so I knew it would be futile to try to invite her.
"How about you Yang, do you want to go? But it's a classical concert…"
"Will those around us forgive me if I sleep and talk in my dreams?"
"Then don't sleep!"
"Ah, so the conductor's Weiss' father? This is live, right? Will they be doing things like Tobirama's cheers or Tobirama's dance?"
I couldn't help but to give a sigh… I really don't know what would happen if I brought Yang along with me…
"Are you interested in attending this, Hyuuga? Though it's a complimentary invitation ticket…"
The smile on Ruby's face disappeared as she took the ticket from me. What's wrong? Is she busy on the day of the concert? Or are the pieces too heavy for her tastes? Dvořák's Symphony no. 5 is not really a problem, but Manfred may not be something for everyone…
"Umm, well… you don't have to force yourself if you don't want to."
"No. I'll definitely make myself free on that day! I can treat this as your invitation to a date, right?"
"Eh?" Huh? What?
"I had never expected you to take the initiative and invite me. I am dying to turn my happiness into endless words and whisper them into your ears, but since there are others around us right now, let's leave it for that very night."
Please, don't go around saying such things, or else you'll be causing misunderstandings for those who are unaware of what is going on!
"… For that very night?"
"Because the concert will be held in Tokyo, right? It will be eight at night when the concert ends, and Tobirama will most likely answer the audience's calls for an encore. We should be having dinner after the concert, so rather than going back home after that, it would be better to stay there for the night."
"You can't!" Weiss stood up all of a sudden.
"Geez Ruby! What are you going on and on about!" Yang stood up as well.
I took a step back on reflex.
"I do welcome the cute jealousies of you two!" Ruby hugged Yang, who was walking towards her, and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Don't be thinking that I'll forgive you just like this!" Yang was still furious despite being hugged in Ruby's arms.
I was already used to scenes like these, so I was not too surprised. Ruby does really enjoy flirting around with girls, while Yang joined this band all because of Ruby. She should be mad even if Ruby was saying that as a joke. But… umm, why is Weiss angry as well? And she's even glancing at me angrily.
"Are you jealous of me, Weiss? Or perhaps… you want to come along as well?"
Ruby proceeded to hug Weiss from behind, and dangled the ticket right before Weiss. Weiss quickly turned her head away as her face turned red.
"Then… I'll be attending the concert together with him, alright?"
"… You can't."
"You heard what she said, Namikaze."
Ruby threw the ticket back at me. It felt like Ruby was happily looking at the strange turn of events.
"The ticket's yours, so you should be the one to decide whom to give it to. However… it seems like both Weiss and Yang are unwilling to go?"
"Ruby, that's just too sly of you." Weiss protested as she continued to struggle in Ruby's arms. It's precisely because of how they are always hugging each other like this, that the misunderstandings about the Folk Music Club were becoming deeper and deeper.
Then I suddenly thought of something… if I gave the ticket to Weiss and used the concert as an excuse to try to convince her once more, then maybe it would be an opportunity for her to get back on good terms with her father? But… with the way things are, it would be a little strange for me to give the ticket to Weiss now…
"How about this? The ticket will go to the victor in some contest which we will all be participating in." A beastly smile appeared at the corners of Ruby's mouth.
"If that's the case, then Ruby would definitely win!" Yang complained, and I felt the same as she did. Ruby loves things like gambling and contests. Her ingenious schemes have ensured that she had never lost before.
"I can handicap myself! Weiss and Yang can team up, while I'll be alone by myself. I grant permission for Namikaze to be on the same side as you two. One against three. How about that?"
It's a little strange for the terms to be that good, right? Ruby must be very confident of herself if she is to come up with conditions like that.
Just as I was about to say something, Weiss raised her head suddenly and said, "Fine."
"I'm really happy, Weiss." Ruby kissed Weiss lightly on her forehead. Weiss's face went red in an instant, and she quickly pushed Ruby's lips away.
"If Weiss's taking part, then I am in as well!"
Umm, you two, calm down! Don't accept the contest without even knowing what you girls will be competing in!
"So what are we competing in?"
"How about… a sauna endurance contest where we can touch each other?"
"That's just you wanting to touch the two girls!"
"Namikaze can join us as well, yeah?"
"I see, I can make sure that you are not touching them… no wait, that's not it! I am a guy here!"
This girl can definitely get us a sauna where it's unisex, so that was a really scary suggestion.
"If you are against the sauna, then how about an eating contest where we can touch each other?"
"What's the reason for touching others in an eating contest? And stop being engrossed in being able to touch others!"
"Then… if we are talking about four people, then Mahjong will be a good choice."
"I do not know the rules of Mahjong," Weiss admitted immediately.
"It's simple. The one with the least points will have to strip."
"Don't teach her the wrong things!"
"So your rule is that the winner has to strip? I don't really mind if you are that desperate about stripping."
"I am not stripping! And please do not forget the original intent of the contest!"
After coming up with a huge list of indecent suggestions, Ruby finally said this in a serious manner.
"How about this then. Since we have four musicians here who are fighting it out, then let's decide the winner with music!"
Ruby took a look at my, Yang and Weiss's faces… In retrospect, all those crazy antics were probably part of Ruby's plans to force us to grudgingly accept her suggestions.
"The winner shall be decided through the chorus contest!"